18/09/2025

Excerpts from the History of Korean Popular Music [7]

Leisure, Entertainment, and the Manyo



In this section, we introduce a new type of song, which is also a product of the colonial era and a highly characteristic genre of the period. It is called manyo, a collective term for humorous songs. Its origins trace back to manzai (漫才), which arrived with the Japanese presence; its Korean adaptation became mandam, acquiring a distinct, bittersweet Joseon flavor within the colonial context. It represented an entertainment form akin to the early 20th-century cabarets, featuring sketches that lampooned the oddities of everyday life or political absurdities. These were typically double acts where two actors bantered, using wordplay as the cleverer character poked fun at the foolish one — who, somehow, still possessed a sharp wit. In this sense, mandam performers can easily be seen as distant relatives of classic American comedy duos like Abbott and Costello. Due to the witty framing of their topics, mandam also bears a slight resemblance to modern stand-up comedy.


Danseongsa Theater, Jongno, Seoul (Public Domain)



The Manyo songs seasoned these Mandam performances, sometimes serving as interludes between scenes, filling breaks, or being integrated directly into the sketches. Musically, they are difficult to categorize because they drew from all available styles; some sounded like Trot, but many more felt like "New Folk Songs" (Sin-minyo), often infused with the rhythms of Jazz. They are best grouped by their lyrical content: characterized by comedy ranging from gentle humor and playful teasing to biting, razor-sharp satire. Accordingly, the performances were boisterous and required significant acting skills—if we were to draw a parallel, the Manyo is essentially what is known in European tradition as the couplet. These popular songs, often including snippets of the spoken dialogue, were also widely released on gramophone records.


Meiji-za, a movie theater during the Japanese colonial period (Public Domain)


Looking behind the scenes of their emergence: colonial rule was not to the liking of Koreans, as evidenced by the series of independence movements starting on March 1, 1919. The Japanese suppressed these movements brutally, but in the process, they seemed to realize something. The rapid expansion of capitalism, the restructuring of labor, and urbanization brought a completely new phenomenon to Joseon, just as it did elsewhere in the world: the appearance of leisure time. Something had to be done with this time to ensure that bored city dwellers (especially the youth) did not occupy themselves with political organizing. Consequently, the Japanese Government-General employed the ancient Roman strategy of "panem et circenses" (bread and circuses). They actively aided the establishment of an entertainment infrastructure, creating theaters, cinemas, libraries, parks, swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, bars, sports facilities, and even gambling dens. Of course, the rise of these institutions could hardly have been suppressed anyway, as the influx of Western culture demanded such a background.


The Nakrangpara tearoom, which also served as a literary and artistic salon (Public Domain)


Today, it is hard to imagine how many novelties people of that era had to confront. We have already discussed changes in music consumption and touched upon the world of cinema. But who would think that sports—ranging from skiing to baseball—or the new flavors of Western cuisine were equally revolutionary? These all required learning, from rules to practical etiquette. Contemporary articles in the Chosun Ilbo reported on difficulties that seem humorous today, such as people being baffled by Western table settings (some reportedly drank the finger-bowl water) or struggling with the complexities of knives and forks. No one had ever seen a film crew at work either; it’s no wonder a crew filming at a bank was once mistaken for a gang of robbers.

Western behavioral patterns emerged; a melodramatic relationship could suddenly seem "vulgar," and women’s light clothing revealed their figures with an unfamiliar "shamelessness." At an art exhibition, visitors were shocked by a female nude sculpture and destroyed it in a rage—yet they soon encountered nude women in advertisements.

Everywhere they looked, they saw novelty: public telephones, radio, streetcars, traffic lights, chewing gum, briquettes, and the list goes on. The encounter with these things, and the often fashionable but not yet natural behavioral patterns adopted to match them, provided a constant source of humor for the Manyo.


Top left: Medicine advertisement, 1927
Top right: Morinaga Milk Chocolate advertisement, 1931
Bottom: Lion Toothpowder advertisement, 1931
(Public Domain)



However, the Japanese administration was not motivated by altruism when it spoke of "educating the people." Everything was permitted—as long as they allowed it. Censorship dominated the entertainment industry, weighing every word, and herding the public into entertainment venues served as a means of surveillance. These operations were strictly controlled under the "Entertainment Control Regulations." This seemingly relaxed world of leisure was also permeated by the traditional rules of social structure, enforcing hierarchies based on ethnicity, social class, and rank. Furthermore, there was blatant discrimination against the native population; only a fraction of Koreans could set foot in elite Western or Japanese restaurants and department stores.


An illustration from the February 1927 issue of Byeolgeongon magazine, which frequently published stories about modern boys and girls during the Japanese colonial period (Public Domain)


Despite this, the recording industry flourished and cinema attendance grew. Movie theaters, acting as playhouses, hosted varieties, musicals, and cabaret nights alongside films. Several record labels operated their own traveling theater troupes. Interestingly, women emerged as a powerful new consumer class, particularly young unmarried women. By the years immediately preceding World War II, parts of this entertainment infrastructure were even repurposed for disguised military preparation by the Japanese. This included popular swimming courses and summer camps where the physical fitness of youth was honed to turn them into "Imperial Warriors."

In the 1930s, the cheerfulness of the Manyo acted as a counterweight to the sadness and bitterness characterizing other genres. However, the somber atmosphere of the approaching war eventually made the lightness and jesting of the Manyo impossible, and the genre completely disappeared in the 1940s. It never truly revived after the war, though beloved songs are still occasionally performed today.



Kim Jeong-gu (1916-1998) és Jang Se-jeong (1921-2003)


Kim Jeong-gu and Jang Se-jeong (Public Domain)


Just as the boundaries between musical genres were fluid, performers moved easily between singing styles. It is no surprise that the most famous singer of Manyo was Kim Jeong-gu, whom we previously encountered as the performer of the mournful "Tears of the Tumen River." As mentioned in Part 5, Kim was far from a gloomy personality; his naturally cheerful disposition made him a perfect fit for humorous Manyo. He was also a master of songs with a bittersweet mood, where his ability to convey both joy and sorrow created a unique emotional tension. His partner in the following song is the singer Jang Se-jeong.

The song "If I Had a Million Won", composed by Yang Sang-po with lyrics by Nam Cho-yeong, was released in 1937 by Okeh Records.





백만원이 생긴다면


만약에 백만원(百萬圓)이 생긴다며는
금(金)비녀 보석(寶石)반지 하나 살테야 음
그리고 비행기(飛行機)도 한 대 사 놓지
하늘 공중(空中) 높이 떠
빙글빙글 돌아서
아서라 백만원(百萬圓)에 꿈을 꾸다가 청춘(靑春)의 인함박을 뒤집어 쓰겠오

만약에 백만원(百萬圓)이 생긴다며는
그란-드 피아노도 한 대 살테야 음
요것이 욕심(慾心)이란 부한당(不汗黨)이야
안 사주면 난 싫어
울기는 또 왜 울어
이것 참 야단났군 백만원(百萬圓) 꿈에 부부간(夫婦間) 가정대전(家庭大戰) 폭발(暴發)이 되겠오

만약에 백만원(百萬圓)이 생긴다며는
인조견(人造絹) 치마적삼 해 입을테야 음
남은 건 막걸리나 죄다 삽시다
그건 사서 뭘해요
두고 먹지 무얼해
아서라 헛(虛ㅅ)소리에 헛(虛ㅅ)꿈 꾸다가 보리밥 비지찌개 다 식어 버렷네


If I Had a Million Won
(Literal translation)

Man: If I happened to get a million won...
Woman: I’d buy a gold hairpin and a jeweled ring. 
Man: I’d even buy an airplane. 
Woman: I’d fly high up into the sky. 
Man: I’d fly round and round. 
Together: Oh, dreaming of a million won like this while young, we’d drown neck-deep in desire.

Man: If I happened to get a million won... 
Woman: I’d buy a "grand" piano. 
Man: That’s just greed, you gang of do-nothings! 
Woman: If you don’t buy it, I won’t love you! 
Man: Now why are you crying again? 
Together: Oh boy, this is a big mess! Dreaming of a million won, a "Great Family War" breaks out between husband and wife!

Man: If I happened to get a million won... 
Woman: I’d have a rayon skirt and blouse made. 
Man: Whatever is left, let’s buy nothing but makgeolli! 
Woman: What would you buy that for? 
Man: To keep and to drink, what else! 
Together: Oh, with all this empty chatter and vain dreams, the barley rice and soybean dreg soup have gone cold on the table.



Park Hyang-rim (1921-1946)



Park Hyang-rim (Public Domain)


Park Hyang-rim (also known as Park Jeong-rim, born Park Eok-byeol) was granted a very short life. At the age of 17, she was signed by Taepyeong Records, and her debut song, My Brother is a Playboy, brought her immediate success. Besides her solo career, she was a member of the Jeogori Sisters. Her vocal skills are highly regarded to this day. One singer who also performed the song noted: "If you focus on the rising and falling frequency of the pitch, it will be difficult to produce a nasal sound; conversely, if you focus on the nasal tone, the song will simply become flat."

Park Hyang-rim survived World War II, but shortly after liberation, she gave birth. Like the vast majority of her female contemporaries, she received no postnatal care (which was a privilege of the upper class or the wealthy). Women often returned to work the day after giving birth; Park also took on a performance, and it is said that puerperal fever (childbed fever) took her life at only 25 years of age.

The song "Oppa Is a Troublemaker" was composed by Kim Hae-song (under the name Kim Song-gyu) with lyrics by Park Yeong-ho.






오빠는 풍각쟁이


오빠는 풍각쟁이야 머
오빠는 심술쟁이야 머
난 몰라 난 몰라 
내 반찬 다 뺏어 먹는거 난 몰라 
불고기 떡볶이는 혼자만 먹고
오이지 콩나물만 나한테 주구
오빠는 욕심쟁이 
오빠는 심술쟁이
오빠는 깍쟁이야

오빠는 트집쟁이야 머
오빠는 심술쟁이야 머
난 싫어 난 싫어 
내 편지 남몰래 보는것 난 싫어
명치좌 구경갈땐 혼자만 가구
심부름 시킬때면 엄벙땡하구
오빠는 핑계쟁이 
오빠는 안달쟁이
오빠는 트집쟁이야

오빠는 주정뱅이야 머
오빠는 모주군이야 머
난 몰라이 난 몰라이 
밤늦게 술취해 오는것 난 몰라
날마다 회사에선 지각만하구
월급만 안 오른다구 짜증만 내구
오빠는 짜증쟁이 
오빠는 모두쟁이
오빠는 대포쟁이야


Oppa Is a Troublemaker

According to its widespread English translation: Oppa Is a Playboy. While to the modern ear, the combination of oppa and punggakjaengi might sound like a comical song about a ‘playboy’ boyfriend, the context of the lyrics — revolving around petty dinner-table food fights, him secretly reading her personal letters, and dodging everyday chores — reveals that this is actually a classic, biological sibling rivalry. In this 1938 context, oppa strictly means an older brother, and punggakjaengi is best understood not as a playboy, but as a ‘good-for-nothing troublemaker’ or a ‘lazy brother’ who loafs around. The use of the term 'oppa' to refer to a romantic partner or an idol one admires only began to spread in the 1990s.

(Literal translation)

Oppa is a troublemaker, yeah
Oppa is a bellyacher, yeah 
I don’t understand, I don’t understand, 
He steals all my side dishes, I don’t understand. 
He eats the bulgogi and tteokbokki all by himself, 
And leaves only cucumber and bean sprouts for me. 
Oppa is greedy, 
Oppa is a grump, 
Oppa is a cheapskate!

Oppa is a fault-finder, yeah 
Oppa is a crank, yeah 
I hate it, I hate it, 
How he secretly reads my letters, I hate it! 
When he goes to see a show at Myeongchijwa [theater/film theater], he goes alone, 
But if I ask him for a favor, he always passes it to someone else. 
Oppa is an excuse-maker, 
Oppa is impatient, 
Oppa is a fault-finder!

Oppa is a drunkard, yeah 
Oppa is a boozer, yeah 
I don’t understand, I don’t understand, 
Coming home drunk late at night, I don’t understand. 
Every day he’s late for work, 
Then he just grumbles that his salary never goes up. 
Oppa is a whiner, 
Oppa has every trouble, 
Oppa is a boozer!



Also in 1938, Park Hyang-rim recorded a duet with composer Kim Hae-song. Both the composer and lyricist of this quintessential cabaret song were Kim Hae-song (under the name Kim Song-gyu). The song hides multiple sources of humor: the flirting yet bickering conversation between the man and woman, the lyrics about the technical difficulties of early telephony, and the chaos of mixed language. Beside their mother tongue, the speakers use Japanese (the official language of the colonizers) and English expressions, which were considered very "cool" at the time.



Park Hyang-rim and Kim Hae-song (Public Domain)







전화일기
 
 
(남) 모시모시 아 모시모시
혼쿄꾸 후따센 나나햐꾸 하찌쥬 야빠요
할로우 할로우 당신이 정희씨요
(여) 네 네네 홧 이즈 유어네임
(남) 엊저녁 속달편진 보셨을 테지요
(여) 아 약광곤줄 잘못 알고 불쏘시갤 했군요
(남) 저응 저응 아이 러브 유
(여) 아이고 망칙해라 아이 돈 노우 빠이 빠이
(남) 아차차차차 으응 으응 으응 으응
저 끊지 말아요 죠죠죠 죠또마떼
(합) 끊으면 나는 싫어 나는 몰라요

(남) 할로우 할로우 너무나 비싸구려
(여) 호호 호호 별꼴을 다 본다
(남) 대동강 풀리듯이 슬쩍 좀 녹구려
(여) 아 우거지떼 쓰지 마우 아이 능글능글해
(남) 저응 저응 아이 러브 유
(여) 아이고 기가 막혀 겟 아웃 빠이 빠이
(남) 아차차차차 으응 으응 으응 으응
저 저 끊지 말아요 죠죠죠 죠또마떼
(합) 끊으면 나는 싫어 나는 몰라요
 
(남) 할로우(여) 할로우
(남) 아서라 요 깍정아
(여) 네 네네 왜 자꾸 보채우
(남) 청춘이 두 번 있나 너무나 도도해
(여) 아 기를 쓰고 사랑해도 안 되는 걸 어떡해
(남) 저응 저응 아이 러브 유
(여) 영원히 사요나라 스미마센와 빠이 빠이
(남) 아차차차차 으응 으응 으응 으응
저 저 끊지 말아요 죠죠죠 죠또마떼
(합) 끊으면 나는 싫어 나는 몰라요



Telephone Diary
(Literal translation)


(Man): Moshimoshi... ah... moshimoshi [Japanese: Hello, hello!]
Honkyoku 2788-ban yo [Japanese: Central, give me number 2788!]
Hello, hello, is this Miss Jeong-hee? 
(Woman): Yes. Yes, yes. What is your name? [English] 
(Man): You received my telegram from yesterday, right? 
(Woman): Ah, I thought it was an advertisement, I used it to light the fire. 
(Man): But... but... I love you. [English]
(Woman): Oh boy, I don’t know, bye bye. [English]
(Man): Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay... wai-wai-wai-wait...
Don’t, don’t hang up! Wai-wai-wai... wait a bit!
[Korean onomatopoeia: 아차차차차, followed by Japanese: Chotto matte! "Wait a second!"] (Together): If you hung up, I wouldn't like not knowing [where we stand].

(Man): Hello, hello, it’s far too expensive!
(Woman): Hoho, hoho, I’ve seen all kinds of weird things.
(Man): Just melt a little, like the thawing Daedong River.
(Woman): Oh, don't throw a stubborn tantrum, ay, you are so sly!
(Man): But... but... I love you. [English]
(Woman): Oh boy, this is mind-boggling, get out, bye bye. [English]
(Man): Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay... wai-wai-wai-wait...
Don't, don't hang up! Wai-wai-wai... wait a bit!
[Korean onomatopoeia: 아차차차차, followed by Japanese: Chotto matte! "Wait a second!"]
(Together): If you hung up, I wouldn't like not knowing [where we stand].

(Man): Hello— (Woman): Hello?
(Man): Stop it, you miserly girl.
(Woman): Yes, yes, yes, why do you keep pestering me?
(Man): Does youth come twice? You are far too arrogant.
(Woman): Ah, what can I do when love doesn't work out even if you try with all your might?
(Man): But... but... I love you. [English]
(Woman): Forever sayonara, sumimasen wa, bye bye. [Japanese: Goodbye, excuse me, followed by English]
(Man): Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay... wai-wai-wai-wait...
Don't, don't hang up! Wai-wai-wai... wait a bit!
[Korean onomatopoeia: 아차차차차, followed by Japanese: Chotto matte! "Wait a second!"]
(Together): If you hung up, I wouldn't like not knowing [where we stand].



Kim Jeong-gu (1916-1998)


Kim Jeong-gu (Public Domain)



Kim Jeong-gu’s biography was featured in Part 5, where we heard him as the performer of Tearful Duman River. Now we evoke more of his songs, as he was one of the most popular performers of manyo. First is a naive love story: "Merchant Wang’s Love Letter", with music by Park Si-chun and lyrics by Kim Jin-mun (1938).





왕서방연서


비단이 장사 왕서방
명월이한테 반해서
비단이 팔아 모은 돈
퉁퉁 털어서 다 줬어
띵호와 띵호와 돈이가 없어도 띵호와 
명월이 하고 살아서
돈이가 무유데 띵호와 
우리가 반해서 하하하 
비단이 팔아서 띵호와

비단이 팔아도 명월이
잠이가 들어도 명월이
명월이 생각이 다다유
왕서방 병들어 누웠어
띵호와 띵호와 병들어 누워도 띵호와
명월이하고 살아서
왕서방 죽어도 괜찮아
워디가 반해서 하하하
비단이 팔아서 띵호와

명월이 얼굴이 띵호와
명월이 마음이 띵호와
비단이 팔아 다 줘도
명월이 돈이 안 받어
띵호와 띵호와 명월이 없어도 띵호와
명월이하고 안 살어 
돈이가 많이 벌어 띵호와
돈이가 많이 벌어 하하하
비단이 팔아서 띵호와



Wang Seo-bang's Love Letter
(Literal translation)


Wang Seo-bang, the silk merchant,
Fell head over heels for Myeong-wol.
All the money he scraped together from selling silk,
He emptied his pockets and gave it all to her.
Ding-ho-wa, ding-ho-wa, even without money, ding-ho-wa!
Because I get to live with Myeong-wol,
Even if I have no money, ding-ho-wa!
We fell for each other, ha-ha-ha!
Selling silk, ding-ho-wa!

Even when selling silk, it's Myeong-wol,
Even when falling asleep, it's Myeong-wol,
Thoughts of Myeong-wol are overflowing,
So Wang Seo-bang fell ill and took to his bed.
Ding-ho-wa, ding-ho-wa, even lying sick in bed, ding-ho-wa!
Because I get to live with Myeong-wol,
It’s fine even if Wang Seo-bang dies.
Where on earth did I fall so hard? Ha-ha-ha!
Selling silk, ding-ho-wa!

Myeong-wol’s face is ding-ho-wa,
Myeong-wol’s heart is ding-ho-wa,
Even though he sells silk to give her everything,
Myeong-wol won't accept his money.
Ding-ho-wa, ding-ho-wa, even without Myeong-wol, ding-ho-wa!
I won't live with Myeong-wol,
I’ll just make a lot of money, ding-ho-wa!
Making a lot of money, ha-ha-ha!
Selling silk, ding-ho-wa!

Note on the text
* “Ding-ho-wa (띵호와)” is a Chinese-sounding exclamation, roughly meaning “hooray,” “cheers,” or “oh, how wonderful!” The audience would often chant or sing along with these and similar atmospheric elements together with the performer.



Now follows a song by Kim Jeong-gu from a year later, featuring a peculiar word in its title: yojigyeong (요지경 / 妖地境). This refers to an optical device known in the West as a raree box or a peep show, in which various stereoscopic—and through rotation, even moving—images could be viewed through a magnifying lens. The device was used as a fairground attraction, often accompanied by storytelling. The word itself can be translated as a "strange, peculiar world," meaning the title of the song is The World is a Yojigyeong/A Strange, Peculiar Place. I could perhaps translate it as a "magic box," but since it refers to a specific device that goes by another name, even that would be misleading. Therefore, it remains yojigyeong. However, those who are interested can watch an fascinating video about the mechanism and crafting of this visually impressive device here: Raree Boxes

The song was released in 1939, with music and arrangement by Park Si-chun, and lyrics by Jo Myeong-am.






세상(世上)은 요지경(妖地境)


요지경(妖地境) 속이다, 요지경 속이다
요지 요지 요지경 속이다
생글 생글 생글 생글 아가씨 세상
벙글 벙글 벙글 벙글 도련님 세상
얘 얘 얘들아, 내 말 좀 듣거라
얼굴이 잘나면 잘나서 살고
못난 사람은 제멋에 산다
얼싸 음마 둥개 둥개, 아무렴 그렇지, 둥개 둥개

싸구려 판이다, 싸구려 판이다
이 세상은 싸구려 판이다
찰랑 찰랑 찰랑 찰랑 막걸리 술잔
지글 지글 지글 지글 매운탕 안주
얘 얘 얘들아, 내 말 좀 듣거라
곱빼기 한 잔에 웃음이 가득
삼팔(三八) 수건(手巾)에 추파(秋波)가 온다
얼싸 음마 둥개 둥개, 아무렴 그렇지, 둥개 둥개

물방아 속이다, 물방아 속이다
이 세상은 물방아 속이다
둥글 둥글 둥글 둥글 뜨내기 세상
생글 생글 생글 생글 숫배기 사랑
얘 얘 얘들아, 내 말 좀 듣거라
홀애비 사정(事情)은 과부(寡婦)가 알고
처녀(處女) 사정은 총각(總角)이 안다
얼싸 음마 둥개 둥개, 아무렴 그렇지, 둥개 둥개



The World is a Yojigyeong
(Literal translation)


This world is a yojigyeong, this world is a yojigyeong,
yoji, yoji, yojigyeong is this world.
A world of smiling-smiling-smiling young ladies,
A world of grinning-grinning-grinning young men.
Hey, hey, kids, listen to me for a second:
The beautiful live by their beauty,
The ugly live for their own pleasure.
Good heavens, Mother, round and round—of course, that's right, round and round!

This world is a bargain market, a bargain market,
This world is surely a bargain market!
Clink-clink, clink-clink go the makgeolli wine glasses,
Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle goes the spicy soup side-dish.
Hey, hey, kids, listen to me for a second:
A double-sized cup is full of laughter,
A flirtatious glance comes from behind a "38-silk" handkerchief.
Good heavens, Mother, round and round—of course, that's right, round and round!

This world is a watermill, this world is a watermill,
This world is surely inside a watermill!
Round and round, round and round goes the wanderers' world,
Smiling-smiling-smiling goes the naive ones' love.
Hey, hey, kids, listen to me for a second:
A widower's hardships are understood by a widow,
A maiden's hardships are understood by a bachelor.
Good heavens, Mother, round and round—of course, that's right, round and round!


The video description provides a comprehensive "user manual" to help understand the nuances of the lyrics, which I have translated here:

Notes:
  • Manyo (漫謠): A satirical, humorous couplet or cabaret-style song that emerged in the 1930s. It is characterized by lighthearted, witty lyrics and a playful tone.
  • Yojigyeong (妖地境): Based on the original characters, it means a "strange, peculiar world." It is actually a corrupted form of the word 瑤池鏡 (yojigyeong).
  • 瑤池鏡: A small device or toy through which one could view various rotating images through a magnifying glass. Metaphorically, it refers to the tangled, strange affairs of the world.
  • Doryeong-nim (도련님): 1) A respectful form of "doryeong"; 2) Used to refer to a husband's younger, unmarried brother.
  • Jal-namyeon / Monnan (잘나면 / 못난): These terms refer not only to being handsome or ugly in terms of facial features but can also mean being talented or clumsy/incompetent.
  • Eol-ssa (얼싸): An exclamation used in joyful situations, or sometimes a sarcastic "Well, look at that!"
  • Eumma (음마): "Eumma," meaning "Oh, Mother!"—an exclamation of surprise typically used by women.
  • Dunggae-dunggae (둥개둥개): A rhythmic onomatopoeia, originally a sound accompanying the rocking or patting of a baby.
  • Ssaguryeo-pan (싸구려판): A "bargain market"; literally a market where defective or discounted goods are sold.
  • Gopppaegi (곱빼기): A double portion (of food or drink), or something that happens twice in a row.
  • Sampal (三八): An abbreviation for a fine silk fabric manufactured in China. "Sampal sugeon" is a handkerchief made from this silk.
  • Chupa (秋波): 1) Autumn water ripples; 2) A flirtatious, coquettish glance; 3) A flattering gesture.
  • Tteunaegi (뜨내기): A wanderer or a person without a permanent residence.
  • Sutbaegi (숫배기): A naive, inexperienced youth—especially a maiden or a bachelor.
  • Horaebi / Gwabu (홀애비 / 과부): A widower and a widow.


The next song by Kim Jeong-gu gives voice to a young man wishing to marry, but there is more packed into this song than just that: it presents an idealized image of rural life, where a girl’s primary appeal—besides her beauty—lies in her hardworking, family-centered virtues. The song "A Bachelor’s Petition" (Chonggak Jinjeongseo) was released in 1938, composed by Park Si-chun with lyrics by Jo Myeong-am.






총각 진정서


누님 누님 나 장가보내주
까마귀 까치 울고 호박꽃 피는 내 고향에
어여쁘고 순직한 아가씨가 나는 좋아
오이김치 열무김치 맛있게 담고
알뜰살뜰 아들딸 보는 아가씨에게
누님 누님 나 장가보내주
응~ 응~ 응~ 장가갈 테야

누님 누님 나 장가보내주
귀뚜라미 울고 들국화 피는 내 고향에
앵두같이 귀여운 아가씨가 나는 좋아
뽕잎 따서 누에 치며 길쌈 잘하고
오밀조밀 참을성 있는 아가씨에게
누님 누님 나 장가보내주
응~ 응~ 응~ 장가갈 테야

누님 누님 나 장가보내주
쓰르라미 울고 모란꽃 피는 내 고향에
복스럽고 똑똑한 아가씨가 나는 좋아
바느질에 빨래질에 상냥스럽고
둥글둥글 믿음성 있는 아가씨에게
누님 누님 나 장가보내주
응~ 응~ 응~ 장가갈 테야



A Bachelor’s Petition
(Literal translation)

Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Crows are cawing, magpies are chirping, pumpkin flowers are blooming in my hometown.
There is a beautiful and pure-hearted girl there, she’s the one I love.
She’s skilled at making cucumber kimchee and radish kimchee,
A girl who would raise children diligently and frugally,
Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Hm~ hm~ hm~ I’m definitely going to marry her.

Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Crickets are chirping, wild chrysanthemums are blooming in my hometown.
There is a sweet little girl there, like a cherry, she’s the one I love.
She picks mulberry leaves, raises silkworms, and is good at weaving,
A girl who works meticulously and patiently,
Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Hm~ hm~ hm~ I’m definitely going to marry her.

Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Cicadas are singing, peonies are blooming in my hometown.
There is a well-to-do and clever girl there, she’s the one I love.
She sews, she washes, she is gentle and kind,
A well-rounded, reliable girl,
Big Sister, Big Sister, let me get married,
Hm~ hm~ hm~ I’m definitely going to marry her.



The following song appears similar on the surface, but here Kim Jeong-gu is literally singing in "the language of flowers." The song is titled "Cherry Blossom Storm" (Aenghwa Pokpung). During the colonial era, if Koreans sang about a natural phenomenon so vital to the Japanese, they likely intended to say more than just praising the beauty of the blossoms. Indeed, in the capital’s park, there is no distinction between the boy and girl, the old and young enjoying the sakura; in the crowd, everyone is equal—implying that Koreans and Japanese are equal as well. This subtle message surely did not please the occupiers, who lived in a state of perceived superiority. The song was again written by the duo Park Si-chun and Jo Myeong-am.






앵화폭풍 (櫻花暴風)


여기도 사꾸라 저기도 사꾸라
창경원 사꾸라가 막 피어났네
늙은이 젊은이 우글우글 우글우글
얼씨구 좋다 응~  꽃시절일세 헤헤이~ 
처녀 댕기는 갑사나 댕기
총각 조끼는 인조견 조끼
밀어라 당겨라 잡아라 놓아라
두둥실 흥~ 꽃이로구나
일천간장 다 녹이는 꽃이로구나

낮에도 사꾸라 밤에도 사꾸라
창경원 사꾸라가 막 피어났네
혼 나간 범나비 너울너울 너울너울
얼씨구 좋다 응~  꽃시절일세 헤헤이~ 
영감 상투는 삐뚤어지고
마누라 신발은 도망을 쳤네
영감 마누라 꼴 좀 보소
어헐싸 흥~  꽃이로구나
싱긋벙긋 껄껄 웃는 꽃이로구나

홀애비 사꾸라 쌍둥이 사꾸라
창경원 사꾸라가 막 피어났네
동물원 친구들 웅성웅성 웅성웅성
얼씨구 좋다 응~  꽃시절일세 헤헤이~ 
신사 모자는 찌부러지고
아가씨 치마는 쭉 찢어졌네
저 거동 좀 봐요
춘당정 흥~  꽃이로구나
어헐씨구 창경원에 꽃이로구나



Cherry Blossom Storm
(Literal translation)


Sakura here, sakura there,
The trees have just bloomed in Changgyeongwon Garden.
Old and young, crowding and bustling,
Hey, how wonderful, hm~ it’s the season of flowers, hey-hey!
A silk ribbon in the maiden’s hair,
The lad in a vest, a rayon vest.
Push and pull, grab and release,
Swaying gently, hm~ this too is a flower,
A flower that melts a thousand hearts!

Sakura by day, sakura by night,
The trees have just bloomed in Changgyeongwon Garden.
Dazed butterflies, fluttering and dancing,
Hey, how wonderful, hm~ it’s the season of flowers, hey-hey!
The old man’s topknot has slipped sideways,
The wife’s shoes have run away.
Just look at the old man and his missus!
Hey-ho, hm~ this too is a flower, A smiling, laughing flower!

Widower sakura, twin sakura,
The trees have just bloomed in Changgyeongwon Garden.
Friends from the zoo are buzzing and rumbling,
Hey, how wonderful, hm~ it’s the season of flowers, hey-hey!
The gentleman’s hat is crushed,
The lady’s skirt is torn all the way.
Just look at how they march!
Chundangjeong Pavilion, hm~ this too is a flower,
Hey, look, everything in Changgyeongwon is a flower!




Kim Yong-hwan (1909-1949)


Kim Yong-hwan (Public Domain)



The Kim family gave several talented musicians to the world; Kim Yong-hwan was the older brother of Kim Jeong-gu and the younger brother of soprano Kim An-ra. Another sibling and Kim’s wife were also musicians and singers. Kim Yong-hwan was simultaneously a composer, lyricist, actor, and performer. He began his career as an actor and later played the lead in director Na Un-gyu's musical adaptation of Arirang, for which he also wrote the songs. He appeared in films but was primarily famous for composing "new folk songs" (several of which were mentioned in the previous chapter, like Kkolmangtae Arirang or Mother). He also discovered the singer Lee Hwa-ja. Several of his songs were banned by the Japanese Governor-General on the grounds that they incited nationalist sentiments.

Despite this, certain things happened to him that fit strangely into his life's work, which will be discussed in the chapter about the war period.

During the World War in 1944, Kim organized the Pacific Performing Arts Corps, which operated as far as Manchuria. Immediately after the war, he wrote the first "liberation song." I can find no information regarding the cause of his early death. As he also created masterful songs in the manyo genre, I will cite a few of his hits here, all released on record in 1939.

In "Drunken Mr. Jin," Kim showcases not only his composing skills (writing both music and lyrics) but also his virtuosity as a performer. The lyrics are almost untranslatable, as the Japanese and Korean languages become completely jumbled in the intoxication of drunkenness. This satirical cabaret song mocks drunkenness, the Chinese merchant, and the Japanese linguistic presence in Joseon all at once. The comical distortion of Japanese words provoked laughter while also serving as a gesture of "resistance" during the colonial era.







술 취한 진서방


야야야이 야야야이
워디 짱궤 사람이 혼토니(ほんとに) 가와이소야루(かわいそうやる)
호박씨만 자꾸 까먹구 이빨이 다 뼈져 호떡이도 못먹어
이것 참 혼토니 워디 고마루하나시다(こまるはなしだ)
그렇지만 고사케와(ごさけわ) 이빨이 없어도 요쿠 논데루(よくのんでる)
배갈이 세 근에 취해서 끅 끅 마와루 마와루(まわる)
세상이 구루(くる) 구루 구루 구루 마와루
이렇게 자꾸 마와루해서 이거 사람 죽은다
죽은다 죽어 죽어 죽은다

야야야이 야야야이
워시 시나 비단 혼토니 가와이소야루
조선 색시 장구 가야금 소리에 반해서 정신없이 먹어서
이거 참 혼토니 워지 고마루하나시다
비싼 배갈 사먹으어 토하면 손핸데 자꾸 올라와
아다마(あたま) 띵해서 죽은다 마와루 마와루
세상이 구루 구루 구루 구루 마와루
이렇게 자꾸 마와루해서 이거 사람 죽은다
죽은다 죽어 죽어 죽은다

야야야이 야야야이
워시 짱궤 사람이 혼토니 가와이소야루
쿠사케데(くさけで) 비단 장사나 모케타( もけた)오카네(おかね) 조선와서 다썼어
이거 참 혼토니 워디 고마루하나시다
이런 제기 산동있는 오토상(おとうさん) 오카상( おかあさん)이쓰아게루(いつあげる)
배갈이 세 근에 취해서 마와루 마와루
세상이 구루 구루 구루 구루 마와루
이렇게 자꾸 마와루해서 이거 사람 죽은다
죽은다 죽어 죽어 죽은다



Drunken Mr. Jin
(Literal translation)

Ay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay!
That Chinese man (짱궤) – hontoni (really) kawaisoyaru (pitiful)!
Just chewing pumpkin seeds, his teeth have all fallen out,
he can't even eat hoddeok.
Eh, this is hontoni (really) komaru hanashi da (a troublesome case).
But gosake wa (as for the alcohol), it slides down well even without teeth, yoku nonderu (he drinks it well)!
Drunk on three geun of liquor, he just spins and spins, mawaru mawaru (spins)…*
The whole world is guru guru guru guru mawaru (spinning round and round)!
If he just keeps spinning and spinning—this man will die,
he'll die, die, die, he'll die!

Ay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay!
That beautiful silk – hontoni (really) kawaisoyaru (pitiful)!
The Korean girl is seduced by the sound of the janggu and gayageum, eating and drinking mindlessly. This too is hontoni komaru hanashi da (a really troublesome case).
She buys the expensive liquor, but if she throws it up, it’s a loss,
yet she keeps coming back.
Her head (atama) is thumping and she gets dizzy—spinning, spinning, mawaru mawaru!
The whole world is guru guru guru guru mawaru!
If she just keeps spinning and spinning—this person will die,
they'll die, die, die, they'll die!

Ay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay!
That Chinese man (짱궤) – hontoni kawaisoyaru (really pitiful)!
Out of bad habit (kusakede), the money he earned (moketa okane) from the silk trade, he spent it all in Korea.
Eh, this is hontoni komaru hanashi da (a really troublesome case)!
With such good-for-nothing father (otosan) and mother (okasan)
—when will he give them up?
Drunk on three geun of liquor, he just spins and spins, mawaru mawaru!
The whole world is guru guru guru guru mawaru!
If he just keeps spinning and spinning—this man will die,
he'll die, die, die, he'll die!

* Note: The geun (근) is actually a unit of weight no longer in use (approx. 600g), but it was reportedly often used to express the quantity of liquor.


I must add several explanations to the next song, "Protest to My Mother-in-Law," so you don't end up as confused as I was. After the first raw translation, I stood before the text completely baffled; it seemed to make sense only on the surface, but in reality, it had neither head nor tail. Naturally, I couldn't let it rest, and after some searching, I found the explanatory writings of Director Lee Dong-soon, head of the Korea Cultural Center for Popular Music. I will share the part that explains what Kim Yong-hwan is singing about. The song was composed by Kim Yang-chon with lyrics by Kim Seong-jip.


The Explanation:

"A thirty-year-old bachelor is taken into the house of a twelve-year-old girl, 'accepted as a son-in-law'—sold there under this pretext. The family promised that when the girl grew up, they would hold a proper wedding, but this promise is never kept. The bachelor, who fails to recognize the true intentions of the cunning mother-in-law, lives a bitter life hardly better than a servant, while his heart only burns more.

We can find traces of this custom, which survived from the Joseon period until the Japanese occupation, in this song. This was called the Yeseoje (豫壻制) system: among poor peasants, a man intended as a son-in-law was taken in even if they had their own sons. They squeezed free labor out of him for a time, and later he could set up a separate household or move in with the family permanently. However, such a husband was completely economically dependent on the wife's family, so his fate was no different from that of a humiliated servant.

It has been a long time since then. But there were still sons-in-law in the country who, living in the house of a wealthy father-in-law and mother-in-law, were forced to lead a subordinate life without free will. Hoping for the day of their independence, let us now listen to 'Protest to My Mother-in-Law'."


— Director Lee Dong-soon 
 

Thus, it becomes clear that Yeseoje (also known as demari or beonkoji) was essentially a system of a ‘pawned son-in-law’ or ‘son-in-law in service’ — an institution that, interestingly enough, can also be found in the Bible. We can read about a similar practice in the story of Jacob and Laban: the poor peasant lad paid for his future wife through his labor, but due to his vulnerability, greedy future-in-laws would often exploit him indefinitely, never actually giving him their daughter’s hand.

 






장모님전 항의


장모님 장모님 가버른에 첫버선이12살짜리
노총각 타는 속은 귀신도 몰라줄끼다
온제나 다자라서 자뻑지고 국수담고 잔치하나요
장모님~ 왜그러냐 장모님~ 우째그래
정말정말 정말 속상해서 못살겠어요..응~ 못살겠어요.

장모님 장모님 다리사이 좋단말이 모르고 한번 속앗어요
머슴꾼 슬픈꿈은 하늘도 몰라줍디다
온제나 다자라서 '사모쓰고 관대끼고' 잔치하나요
장모님~ 왜그러냐 장모님~ 우째그래
정말정말 정말 애가타서 못살겠어요. 응~못살겠어요.

장모님 장모님 손톱 발톱 다닿도록 꿈적도않고 일만하면
바랄때 기다리다 제물에 늙으랍니까
언제나 다자라서 연지찍고곤지 찍고 잔치하나요
장모님~왜그러냐 장모님~우째그래
정말정말 정말화가나서 못살겠어요. 응~못살겠어요


Protest to My Mother-in-Law
(Literal translation)

Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law,
At thirty years old, the first thing they showed me was a twelve-year-old girl,
Even ghosts couldn't understand my burning bachelor soul.
When will the day come when she grows up, we bake rice cakes, boil noodles, and finally have a wedding?
Mother-in-law, why do you do this? Mother-in-law, how can you?
I am so, so, so sad that I can't live like this... oh, I can't live!

Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law,
They said being a 'live-in son-in-law' would be so good, and in my ignorance, I fell for it.
Even the heavens do not understand the bitter heart of the day laborer.
When will the day come when she grows up, I put on the ceremonial hat and belt, and we can hold the wedding?
Mother-in-law, why do you do this? Mother-in-law, how can you?
I am consumed by such, such, such sorrow that I can't live like this... oh, I can't live!

Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law,
My fingernails and nail beds are worn out from so much work, working without pay,
Am I just to wait for the girl to grow up and grow old here with you in the meantime?
When will the day come when she paints her face, puts on the bridal dots, and finally the wedding happens?
Mother-in-law, why do you do this? Mother-in-law, how can you?
I am so, so, so angry that I can't live like this... oh, I can't live!



Finally, we come to the last song of our post, which, fittingly for Kim Yong-hwan, is no ordinary piece. He is both the composer and lyricist, and through his performance, he vibrantly brings to life the characters we meet in each verse. After the lyrics, Lee Dong-soon again peels back the layers of the song.






낙화유수 호텔


우리 옆방 음악가 新舊신구 雜歌잡가 음악가
머리는 상고머리 알록달록 주근깨
으스름 까스불에 바요링을 맞춰와

          자~ 창부타령, 노래가락, 개성난봉가
          자~ 뭐든지 없는 거 빼놓곤 다 있습니다.
          에~ 또 눈물 콧물 막 쏟아지는 낙화유수, 세 동무
          자~ 십전입니다. 단돈 십전, 십전! 
          싸구려 싸구려 唱歌冊창가책이 싸구려,
          창가책이 싸구려~

우리 웃방 변사님 無聲映畵무성영화 변사님
철늦은 麥藁帽(子)맥고모(자)에 카라 없는 와이샤쓰
캄캄한 스테지에 *노량목을 뽑아서 *전통 창에서는 금기시 된 판소리 창법 

          아침부터 내리는 눈이
          저녁이 되어서는 함박꽃이 쏟아진다.
          *산다손(샌더슨)으로 말미암아 거짓 결혼에 희생이 되어
          생의 파멸을 당한 안나는 주인 *파드레드(버틀렛)로부터
          나가라는 선고를 받았다. *1935 무성영화 "동도-東道-Way Down East"의 등장인물들
          싸구려 싸구려 무성영화 싸구려,
          무성영화 싸구려~

우리 앞방 大學生대학생 밤 엿장수 대학생
쭈그렁 금단추에 울퉁불퉁 여드름
슬쓸한 밤거리에 엿 목판을 메고서

          싸구려, 싸구려, 밤엿이 싸구려
          수수엿 깨엿 콩엿 개성 인삼엿 북청 검은엿
          시어머니 몰래 이불 속에서 둘이 먹다
          하나가 죽어도 모를 후추 양념에 밤엿~
          어으아 밤엿~ 
          싸구려 싸구려 대추엿이 싸구려,
          대추엿이 싸구려~



"Falling Flowers and Flowing Water" Hotel
(Literal translation)


The musician living in the next room plays everything, both traditional and new folk songs.
His hair is cropped short, his freckles play in a thousand colors.
In the dim light, under the gas lamp, he tunes his violin.
Step right up! Changbu Taryeong, Noraegarak, or the Kaesong Nanbongga!
Step right up! We have everything here, except what we don't!
Eh... even the tear-jerking, spit-dripping 'Falling Flowers and Flowing Water,' and even 'The Three Comrades'!
Step right up! The price is only ten jeon—just ten jeon, ten jeon!
Cheap, cheap, the songbook itself is cheap,
the songbook is cheap!
The byeonsa [silent film narrator] living in the upper room
Still wears a straw hat in late autumn and walks in a collarless shirt.
From the stage, the 'norangmok' [a forbidden vocal technique in traditional pansori] pierces the darkness.
Snow has been falling since morning,
by evening, huge flakes are pouring down.
Sanderson deceived Anna with a fake marriage,
and Bartlett, the master, has kicked her out,
her life is in ruins. [reference to the characters of the 1935 film 'Way Down East']
Cheap, cheap, the silent film is cheap,
the silent film is cheap!
The university student living in the room opposite studies by day and sells caramel by night.
Gold buttons on his wrinkled uniform, pimples bulging on his face,
carrying his wooden candy tray around his neck through the deserted night streets.
Cheap, cheap, the night caramel! Cheap!
Sorghum caramel, sesame caramel, soy caramel, Kaesong ginseng, Bukcheong black caramel!
Eating it under the covers behind the mother-in-law’s back, they wouldn't notice if one of them died.
Oh, chestnut caramel seasoned with pepper!
Oh, my nighttime caramel
Cheap, cheap, the date caramel is also cheap,
the date caramel is cheap!


Lee Dong-soon writes about this song:

"In the first verse, the scene of a night-street bookseller selling songbooks by the light of a carbide lamp on a deep, dark street is drawn as vividly as a painting. The appearance of this young street vendor is characterized by hair cropped short to about 3 cm and a face entirely covered in freckles; his nickname is "the Musician." The lighting is provided by a brightly burning carbide lamp, whose consuming, hissing sound can be heard loudly and clamorously. After playing the violin for a while, the young man sets the instrument down and cries out to himself. He loudly promotes the “Sin-gu-japga” (Miscellaneous Songs New and Old), a songbook priced at a mere ten jeon, yet the passing pedestrians pay him little to no attention. Titles of 1920s silent film theme songs, such as “Nakhwa-yusu” (Falling Flowers, Flowing Waters) and “Se dongmu” (Three Friends), are also visible.

The protagonist of the second verse is an anonymous silent film narrator (byeonjsa) who travels around carrying old silent film reels, using them to stimulate the curiosity of village residents, screening them, and collecting a small admission fee. Shall we take a look at his wretched appearance? Although a cold wind is blowing, this nameless byeonjsa wears a out-of-season straw hat that looks chilly just to behold, and he directly wears a thin, collarless summer dress shirt. In the open-air theater with only a few audience members, the narrator spins his bittersweet tales with a melodic voice, yet with a sense of solitary, lonely resonance, full of audacity and charm. However, throughout the work, this is heard almost as a desperate cry or a sorrowful, harsh, and lamentable timbre.

The protagonist in the third verse is a pitiful working student who wanders through the winding back alleys late at night, selling malt candy (yeot) to self-finance his tuition fees. Though he wears a university student uniform adorned with worn golden buttons, his face is still covered in acne. Carrying the yeot tray slung across his chest, the student cries out by himself. Within that cry, all kinds of yeot varieties that the common people of the time enjoyed as snacks are brought to mind in diverse ways. These items include chestnut yeot, which has a slightly spicy taste enhanced with pepper, sesame yeot, Gaeseong ginseng yeot, Bukcheong black yeot, and sweet jujube yeot. Particularly while describing the chestnut yeot, the working student depicts a scene where a newlywed couple, with their blanket pulled all the way over their heads, affectionately share the candy together, eating secretly with bated breath for fear that the mother-in-law in the main room might notice—a sight that is both comical and smile-inducing.

However, there is no resonance to the cries of the protagonists appearing in each verse. They are all wanderers of the night streets where the cold wind blows. Eventually, as the night deepens, they simultaneously gather and pack up the props they had spread out on the ground, then trudge back to their lodging, which is nothing but a peerlessly cheap inn (yeoinshuk). In this yeoinshuk, where the three—the open-air bookseller called the street musician, the nameless byeonjsa screening silent films, and the working student selling yeot—gather, they retreat separately into the front room, the upper room, and the side room. They have already been long-term residents for several days. Since their business performance is not particularly good, it is burdensome for them to pay even the immediate lodging fee. They worry even about the next day's meal. Yet, in the foreground of the work, their peculiar grassroots optimism can be felt. They do not break down or fall into despair under any desperate crisis, but endure and live through each day like an ox trudging forward silently, looking only straight ahead. Although it is merely a very cheap yeoinshuk, they call their lodging the "Nakhwa-yusu Hotel." While “Nakhwa-yusu” is the title of a silent film, it also symbolizes the plight of a homeless wanderer drifting through the bottom of colonial society. We must pay close attention to the audacity and leisure of life that allows them to call this yeoinshuk a hotel.

Throughout the entire work, not only does the concrete life of those at the bottom of colonial society in the late 1930s feel tangibly real, but it feels as if the vivid voices of those crying out on the wind-chilled night streets can be heard directly. Where else could there be a song or a literary work that captures the typical customs of that era and social environment more realistically than this? The true value of this work is confirmed precisely in this regard. Kim Yong-hwan easily and masterfully delivered the entirety of both the singing and the spoken dialogue of this song with his own unique and unparalleled talent."


I couldn't possibly find a more beautiful way to wrap up the pre-World War II history of manyo songs. As I previously mentioned, by the 1940s, there was simply no room left for the genre’s lightheartedness. Even after liberation, their story did not continue uninterrupted; history would have it that people had to wait a long time before one of those peculiar manyo-esque laughs could ring out once again. Truth be told, I didn't actually intend to share this final video for the song itself, as everyone is familiar with George W. Johnson’s The Laughing Song. The Koreans made a manyo of their own out of it, keeping the music but writing new lyrics. But even that isn't what matters—it's the laugh. Specifically, Seo Young-chun's laugh from 1964, which is so utterly magnificent that you just can't help... but laugh along.




In the upcoming parts, we will review the state of jazz, and though we will also touch upon the war period, that will bring us to the end of the first major chapter of Korean popular music.





→ To the 8th part








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